Mass Effect 2 £12.95 @ Zavvi [Xbox 360 Games]

We've featured a fair few deals for Mass Effect 2 over these last few weeks, but Zavvi have now shaved another pound off of the base price. They're currently retailing at £12.95, which will save you a quid compared to Asda. This isn't the best price we've ever seen for Mass Effect 2- but it's certainly the cheapest around at the moment (unless you pick it up in a 2 for £25 deal).

Mass Effect 2 sharpens up, slims down and dumbs down compared to its predecessor. Forced to assemble a crack team for an insane suicide mission, Commander Shepherd has a much darker and more personal mission this time around. The combat mechanics have been massively improved, resulting in epic firefights that frequently rival some of the best shooters out there. The action is crisp, sharp and cinematic- and the difference is incredible.

On the other hand, I personally have a bone to pick with the exposition. The main story arc is fairly mundane (and, in many ways, poorly delivered)... resulting in the only major twist being glossed over and brushed off over an apathetic radio call. The characters all have their own backstories- but their reasons for joining your team feel incredibly vague, and there simply isn't enough time to deliver a fleshed out biography in each case.

But hey, all of this is entirely pointless. In fact, I probably shouldn't have even wasted your time. Here's the deal: if you enjoyed the original Mass Effect... and haven't played this yet... then you should go right ahead and buy it now. If you didn't enjoy or even play Mass Effect the first time around then simply don't bother. Why not check out Matt's full review?